Expandable post binder



April 29, 1958 s, SCHADE EXPANDABLE POST BINDER Filed Dec. 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR.

FRANK STAN LEY SCHADE ATTORNEYS United States Patent Q EXPANDABLE POST BINDER Frank Stanley Schade, Holyoke, Mass., assignor to National Blanlr Book Company, Holyoke, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 28, 1955, Serial No. 555,801

3 Claims. (Cl. 12913) This invention relates to expansible loose leaf binder constructions of the post binder type and more particularly to a binder in which the back panels with marginal binding units are relatively adjustable to clamp an increased or decreased number of loose leaf sheets together between cover assemblies.

An object of the invention is to provide a post binder of variable capacity in which the binder clamping units are held together in operative relation by wedging action supplied by a plate lying in flat planar relation against one of the back panel units. Thus the inside binding margin of the filler pack of sheets contained by the binder may be placed in closer juxtaposition to the back panel plates than in prior conventional binders of this general type. The result is a more compact assembly of less overall size than has been heretofore possible for loose leaf sheets of given dimension.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simplified wedge construction with a minimum number of moving parts for automatically seating the opposed marginal clamp elements together in clamping relation when the back panel members of opposed cover assemblies are inter-engaged and, furthermore, to provide a conveniently accessible and easily manipulated manual reiease to disengage the wedging elements when removal or addition of loose leaf sheets is desired.

The invention resides in the particular relationship of structural elements and cooperation of the parts in the assembly. The above and other specific objects and advantages of the invention will be seen from the following disclosure.

In'the drawings,

Fig. l is a plan view of a new binder assembly with the top cover turned back to open position and portions of the covers and filler pack of sheets broken away;

Fig. 2 is an end edge view with parts in section as from the lower edge of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the back panel portions of the opposed cover assemblies showing the operative parts of the wedge mechanism with the pack of sheets and spindle plate element removed;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the binding elements in operative position to retain a maximum capacity of loose leaf sheets; I

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the parts as wedged in an intermediate position;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the parts latched in a fully telescoped position; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the spindle plate element of the assembly.

In Figs. 1 to 3 opposed cover units of the binder are each shown with a stiff cover panel 1 and 2 hingedly connected, as at 3, with relation to the back panel units. The back panel units generally indicated by. numerals 4 and 5 are slidable transversely of each other.

Panel unit a for the cover 1 is preferably formed as a shallow metal channeled plate or panel 6 fixed along its cuter flanged edge with an inwardly directed clamping flange member 7. Flange 7 also extends outwardly of panel 6 and is formed with a backing plate 3 spaced from and in overlying parallel relation with panel 6. To the plate 8 is fixed (as by riveting indicated at 9) an inner hinged backing strip portion 10 of the cover panel 1.

Panel unit 5 for cover 2 comprises a metal plate or panel 11 having an inwardly directed clamping flange member To the back of panel 11 is aifixed (as by riveting at 13) an inner hinged backing strip 14 of the cover panel 2.

The back panels may thus be engaged for sliding action by inserting panel 11 between the panel 6 and plate 8. Opposed flanges 7 and 12 are adapted to clamp between them the inner marginal binding edges of a stack of filler sheets as at 15 (Fig. 2). Sheets 15 are mounted on telescoping post binding means which may be arranged between the flanges as best seen from Figs. 2, 3 and 7. The lower flange 12 is provided with a post 16 at each end thereof (Fig. 3) and a central post receiving tube 17. In assembling the binder a pile of sheets is first stacked on the flange 12 by threading the binding holes at the edges of the sheets on the posts 16 and tube 17. Next with or without a portion of the stack of sheets mounted thereon a spindleplate 13 (Fig. 7), having a pair of post receiving tubes 19 at each end and a central post 2%, is.

registered with posts 16 and tube 17 of flange 12. The spindle is then telescopically fitted on the assembly of the back panel unit 5. it will be seen from Fig. 7 that the tubes 19 are open from the top side of the spindle plate 18 and into these openings may be registered a pair of plugs 21 at opposite ends of the top flange 7 (see Figs. 3 and 2) of the upper back panel unit. Accordingly the full pack of sheets may be mounted on the lower back panel assembly with the post means completely arranged as the upper back panel is mounted to slide into place and the plugs 21 engage the tube openings at 22 so as to latch the panels together as will be described.

mounting the sheet pack between the flanges of the back panel can be otherwise provided for, but the spindle plate arrangement as here shown is preferred for the comparative ease with which a large stack of sheets can be handled for insertion or removal of single sheets. Further, in mounting the cover units together the top back panel assembly can easily find its final seating position for a securely clamped condition.

As best seen from Fig. 3 the plate of the channeled back panel 6 is slotted transversely as at 23 at the center of the panel. A short post 24 fixed to the panel 11 and inwardly directed from the outer free edge thereof is received in the slot 23 intersecting the plane of panel 6 and extending beyond it'as clearly shown by Fig. 2. in mounting panel unit 4 to engage the lower unit 5 it will be seen that the open end of the sheath or pocket between the spaced plates 6 and 8 may be placed over the edge of the plate or panel 11. The open end of slot 23 is registered to slide over the post 24 and thus be guided to register the plugs 21 in the open end of the spindle tubes. As the unit 4 is moved to seat the flange 7 against the spindle plate the post 24 of plate 11 is wedged ag st Withdrawal from slot 23 by a plate 25 longitudma slidable on the slotted panel 6.

The plate 25 (Fig. 3) lies at one side of slot 23 and is tensioned in the direction of the post 24 by a spring 26 hooked between an ear 27 of the plate 25 and ear 28 at the other end of panel plate a. Plate 25 is preferably formed with short upturned flanges 215' at each side on plate 6. Adjacent the entrance of slot 23 ears 31 at each Side thereof are turned from the outer flange of plate 6 to provide a grooved edge retaining jacent forward edge of the plate 25. As will be seen flange at this edge is cut back as at 32 to permit the limited forward travel. At the other side of the plate an extension 33 is provided to pass through an elongated slot 34 (Fig. 1) in the flange 7. Extension 33 is held in slidable relation by slot 34 and is turned to lie in flat relation at the outside of flange 7. On the outer end of the extension is pivoted a finger piece or tab 35. Tab 35 is formed with a curved outer side at 3-6 and provided with a flanged inner edge 37 which in assembled position of the binder assembly lies nested against the edge of marginal flange 7. As shown by the dotted line position of Fig. 1 the tab 35 can be swung back to rest the heel of the flanged edge 37 against the edge of flange 7. In this position the curved edge 36 serves as a con venient finger hold by which the tab can be pulled to draw plate 25 against its spring 26 and withdraw the plate from wedged condition against the post 24 as will be described. The retracted position of the plate 25 is shown by Fig. 3 and in such position the tab 35 can be caught fast by lodging the heel of the flanged edge 37 in a notch 39 cut in the edge of flange 7. In latched condition the plate 25 is completely withdrawn from the slot 23 and thus the two cover and back plate units may be conveniently handled for purposes of assembly or separation.

The action of the wedging plate 25 is best illustrated with reference to Figs. 4, 5 and 6. Fig. 4 shows a position of maximum sheet capacity which in actual practice may be designed for a pack of two and one-half or three or more inches in thickness. The inner end edge of the plate as at 40 is shown as angularly related with respect to the transverse slot 23 and the direction of travel of the plate. This angle is preferably less than to the longitudinal axis of plate 25 so that in the wedged condition of the edge 40 as in Fig. 5 the post 24 can move inwardly of the slot to further telescope the back panels while movement in an outward direction is prevented by reason of the angle against which the post is set. In other words the inclined edge is set at an angle against which no camming action can take place to thrust the plate against spring as, because of frictional resistance. Thus, for any given thickness of a pack of loose leaf sheets mounted on the lower panel and tied in with the spindle plate, the upper panel can be fitted in place as previously described and when the latch is released the top cover can be moved to a snugly fitted relation against the top margin of the pack and there held by the wedging action of the plate.

For the maximum capacity position the edge 40 is provided with a flat 41 at its forward edge to form a positive hold against removal of the post 24 from the slot in this position. A flat hold at 42 is also provided for the fully telescoped position as shown by Fig. 6. In this latter position the binder may be used with a pack of sheets of less thickness than the dimension of the binding posts in fully telescoped relation. A positive hold locks the panels together to avoid undue wear on the parts under conditions where the marginal flange 7 of the upper panel cannot be held snugly clamped against the pack to prevent any tendency of the parts to shift or shuck in handling. With reference to Fig. 5. it will be appreciated that with a pack of sheets of an intermediate size on the posts the top flange 7 can be tightly clamped against the top margin and fix the position of the post 24 in tightly wedged relation against the edge 49 and at a single location With the parts thus secured against movement the assembly can be used and handled without the post 24 shifting in either direction.

What is claimed is:

1. In an expandible loose leaf binder comprising two cover members hingedly connected to respective separable back panels, said back panels being disposed invaritrack for the ad- I 4 able overlapping relation and guided for relative transverse movement and clamping means disposed longitudinally of said back panels and connecting therewith for binding marginal portions of a pack of loose leaf filler sheets the thickness of which may vary; the combination of a slotted portion in one panel wherein a slot extends from an opening at an outer edge of the panel inwardly in a transverse direction, a pin extending from the other panel and entering the transverse slot of the first mentioned panel to define the transverse movement between the two panels, said panels being freely movable toward a pack clamping position with maximum possible overlapping of said panels as limited by the thickness of the pack of sheets being bound by the clamping means, said pin being displaced progressively further away from said slot opening when said panels are so moved, wedge means for locking said panels in said clamping position, said wedge means comprising a plate slidably mounted on the slotted panels for longitudinal movement, means for maintaining said plate at all times within the outline of said slotted panel, said plate having an edge inclined at an angle of less than 45 with respect to its direction of sliding movement, and spring means at all times urging the inclined edge of said plate towards said pin to wedge the pin away from the slot opening as the back panels are maintained in said pack clamping position dependent upon the thickness of the pack of filler sheets, said plate being movable upon overpowering of said spring means to a position allowing separation of said back panels by withdrawal of said pin from said slot.

2. In an expandable loose leaf binder comprising two cover members hingedly connected .to respective back panels, said back panels being disposed in variable overlapping relation and guided for relative transverse movement and clamping means disposed longitudinally of said back panels and connecting therewith for binding marginal portions of a pack of loose leaf filler sh eets thev' thickness of which may vary; the combination of a slotted portion in one panel wherein a slot extends from adjacent the hinge connection toward an outer edge of the panel in a transverse direction, a pin extending from the other panel and entering the transverse slot of the first mentioned panel to define the transverse movement between the two pancls, said panels being freely movable toward a pack clamping position with maximum possible overlapping of said panels as limited by the thickness of the pack of sheets being bound by the clamping means, said pin being displaced progressively further away from said outer edge when said panels are so moved, wedge means for locking said panels in said clamping position,

said wedge means comprising a plate slidahly mounted on the slotted panel for longitudinal movement, said plate having an edge inclined at an angle of less than 45 with respect to its direction of sliding movement, said slotted panel having a longitudinally extending flange forming at least in part the clamping means adjacent the hinged connection of its cover member, said flange also being longitudinally slotted, an extension extending from said plate and passing through the slot of said flange, the outer end of said extension being turned against the outer surface of said flange, spring means at all times urging the inclined edge of said plate towards said pin to wedge the pin away from said outer edge as the back panels are maintained in maximum possible overlapping relation dependent upon the thickness of the pack of filler sheets,

said plate extension having a finger piece pivotally mounted therein for moving said plate to overpower said spring means and move the plate to a position allowing said panels to be moved away from such maximum possible overlapping relation, said flange having means interengageable with the finger piece for latching the plate in said last named position.

3. In an expandable loose leaf binder comprising two cover members hingedl-y connected to respective sep-.

arable back panels, said back panels being disposed in variable overlapping relation and guided for relative transverse movement and clamping means disposed longitudinally of said back panels and connecting therewith for binding marginal portions of a pack of loose leaf filler sheets the thickness of which may vary; the combination of a slotted portion in one panel wherein a slot extends from an opening at an outer edge of the panel inwardly in a transverse direction, a pin extending from the other panel and entering the transverse slot of the first mentioned panel to define the transverse movement between the two panels, said panels being freely movable toward a pack clamping position with maximum possible overlapping of said panels as limited by the thickness of the pack of sheets being bound by the clamping means, said pin being displaced progressively further away from said slot opening when said panels are so moved, wedge means for locking said panels in said clamping position, said wedge means comprising a plate slidably mounted on the slotted panel for longitudinal movement, means for maintaining said plate at all times within the outline of said slotted panel, said plate having an edge inclined at an angle of less than 45 with respect to its direction of sliding movement, said slotted panel having a longitudinally extending flange forming at least in part the clamping means adjacent the hinged connection of its cover member, said flange also being longitudinally slotted, an extension extending from said plate and passing through the slot of said flange, the outer end of said extension being turned against the outer surface of said flange, spring means at all times urging the inclined edge of said plate towards said pin to wedge the pin away from the slot opening as the back panels are maintained in maximum superposed relation dependent upon the thickness of the pack of filler sheets, said plate extension having a finger piece pivotally mounted therein for moving said plate to overpower said spring means and move the plate to a position allowing separation of said back panels by withdrawal of said pin from said slot, said flange having means interengageable with the finger piece for latching the plate in said last named position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,720,242 Shade July 9, 1929 2,179,756 Schade Nov. 14, 1939 2,447,775 Schade Aug. 24, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 5,207 Great Britain Apr. 16, 1892 

